The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-12
THE nyDrANApoL1s youRnA1. SATURDAY MARon II, 1881

cans feel that he has been a great leader or ad-
wiser in the guidance of all manner Of substan-
tial interests though the Legislature of the
State has paid him the unusual honor Of adjourn
ing as his right; though the press. and divines
and orators of all degrees are trying to compass
the mighty theme in glowing words, IN words OF
exulting grief that we have had him with Us
SO long, and have lost him. yet that as be lies
there so quiet, we may look at him as one who
has been through all and in all things an apostle
of one supreme thoueht-a preacher of the ever
lasting gospel of the everything Christ You
who knew him best. you who have listened to
him here in this church, know we'll that first,
last. and always, in no barren or dreaming sense,
his life has been absorbed in this work and hid
with Christ in God"
In closing his sermon, Dr. Hall said
"A brave and weary heart is here at rest
brave of old to dare brutal force and defy the vi
o!ence OF mobs and ruffians in speaking for the
slave; brave to accept the murmurs aud doubts
of his political friends when conscience prompt
ed to part from them; bravest to wrestle along
with great sorrow when he found no earthly
help We honor him for the courage of his
former acts; We love him and wonder at him for
the calm, sweet. gentle resignation Of these last
years God believe. has led him step by step
to spend his last days among us with wisdom
gained from the cross; tender, gentle, sober
wisdom. which helped him to see the Captain of
our salvation, who was made perfect through
suffering that we may all be of one, and the
great sufferer not ashamed to call us brethren.
On his last Sunday evening in this place, two
weeks ago, after the congregation had retired
from it, the organist and one or two others were
practcing the hymn, Il heard the voice of Jesus
say, come unto me and rest Mr. Beecher,
doubtless with that tire that, follows
pastors Sunday work, remained and lis
tened. Two street urchins we're prompted to
wander into the building and one of
them was standing in the position of the boy
whom Rafael has immortaiized, gazing up at
the organ. The old man, laying his hands
the boys head. turned his face upward and
kissed him, and. with his arm about the two
left this scene of his triumphs his trials and his
successes forever. 1t was a fitting close to
grand life-the old man of genius and fame
shielding the little wanderers Great in breast
ing traditional ways and preJudices; great, also
in the gesture, SO like him that recognized, as
did the Master. that the humolest and poorest
were his BRETHREN the great preacher led out
into the night by the little nameless waits
THE great Life of Christ is left unfinished
for US to do our little part and weave our hum
BILE deeds and teachings into the story. Men
will praise our brother for genius patriotism
victories and intellectual labors. My love for
him has had Its origin in his broad humanity.
his utter lack OF sham, mis- transparent love of
the JUNCTION from above that dwells in, and teach
es, and beauties the lines of duty. He said Of
his father: The two things which he desired
most were the glory of God and the good of
men, So it was with him, as the hearts of
grateful myriads attest. But we bid him here
farewell, and to me oftenest will come the Wis
ion OF him passing out of yonder door with his
arms about the boys, passing to the city OF
God whore he hears again the familiar voice of
the Master saying, OF such is the kingdom of
heaven"
DR.. Hall pronounced the benediction and the
vast audience slowly filed out of the church.
1t was notable gathering and one long to be
remembered by those present.
After the conclusion of the services the pub
lie was admitted to view the body. The people
were formed in line along Orange and down
Henry streets, with policemen every few yards
to keep the late corners from breaking in. In
short time the line extended for two blocks, and
two hours after the doors were thrown open the
line nearly a quarter of a mile long or
three times the length of that of the previous
day. The other churches in which services
were held were all crowded to the utmost extent
of their capacity. 1t is estimated that fully
20, 900 people attended services in the various
churches. and that fully twice that number were
gathered in the streets in the neighborhood of
Plymouth Church
Mr.. H. W. Sage, of Ithiea. N. Y. was present
at Mr. Beechers funeral to day. When seen by
a reporter he said that his father had left money
to erect monument to the memory of the great
divine He further stated that he had not
denied that such was fact.
IhOSo In cnarg6 naQ lntenQe0 TO close the
church at P. NJ. but when the appointed hour
arrived the crowd was so dense that it was de-
cided to give an hour of grace. The line COM
mencing at the casket inside the church.
tended down Orange street to Henry down
Henry to Fulton avenue, and thence around the
corner, where it terminated in irregular
group, which was beyond the pale of police gu
pervision. The eagerness Of people to get ia
forabe positions in the line led to q
number of wild scuffles with the
themselves superior to police authority by in
sisting upon penetrating the lines and calmly
ignoring the dismayed policemen, who were too
gallant to arrest the fair nterlopers and were
powerless to keep them out by orders and pro-
testations
The scenes of Thursday were steadily repro
duced throughout the whole afternoon. There
was the same dense throng the same determi-
nation on all sldes to catch a view of the body,
and the same solemn good order. The
line flowed steadily into the church, di-
viding at the coffin, until few
minutes after 4 o'clock, when the
day-school could be got in order. When the
| little ones had formed by columns of twos they
were marched in past the bier, and by their
| bright clothing and quiet awe gave another
phase to the scene of solemnity in the duskv in
| terror The children seemed each to have per-
| sonal attachment for the dead pastor, and more
| than youthful pair Of eyes was bathed in
tears at the first glimpse of the peaceful face in
| the coffin.
| After the children-numbering 5000 or more
had passed, there was another influx of peo-
| pie, which continued for several hours.
| Action of the Clerical Union.
! New YORK, March 1.-THE Clerical Union OF
| New Y rk and Brooklyn has a membership OF
| clergymen irrespective of creed or denomina
ton. Having in mind the recent action of q
body of ministers in Chicago relative to Henry
| Ward Raechar and his death fhA Clsrica]